COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.
"TEE Fra Diavolo of AUBER has been tried at three theatres, and failed at every one," said a contemporary journal in announcing its intended performance at Covent Garden. It is true that AN opera, so called, has been so produced, in each version of which some little of AuBiufs music has been retained ; but it is not true that THE Fra Diavolo of that com- poser, or any thing like it, has ever been heard in this country before Tuesday night. We described the Drury Lane version last year, as what it really was, the composition chiefly of Mr. ALEXANDER LEE, though announced as that of AUBER : the imposture being detected, the result was failure. We anticipate a successful run for the real opera. The music itself is so light and sparkling throughout, that general auditors are sure to be delighted, while the more fastidious find occasional displays of real talent and skill, sufficient to stamp upon it a sort of classical character. It is truly and completely French—a piquant and pleasant dish made out of slender materials.
The Overture is composed of several of the motivos which occur in the piece, and introduced by a solo on the side-drum la Gazza Ladra) of about twenty bars. Every species of noisy instrument is unsparingly employed. It was admirably played, and there was a pretty general call for its repetition.
We may be spared the trouble of describing the story of an opera, which frequent repetitions of one kind or other must have rendered fa- miliar to our play-frequenting readers. The cast of the principal cha- racters was as follows.
Fra Diavolo Mr. BRAHAIL Lord illleash Mr. PERSON.
Lorenzo Mr. WILsoN.
Beppo Mr. STANSBURY. Giacomo Mr. REYNOLDSON.
Lady Allcash Miss CAWSE. Zerlina Miss ROMER.
Such a combination of vocal strength was necessary to the performance of an opera of which the chief excellence lies in the concerted pieces. These are frequent, long, and difficult ; but they are constructed with great knowledge of dramatic effect, and occasionally develop considerable beauty. The first movement of the Quintet, " 0 rapture abounding," contains some very elegant phrases; • and the Finales, that to the first act espescially, are admirable of their kind. In his songs, 1VI.Aunart has not been so successful ; they are merely pretty at best, and sometimes dull. The most effective are those of Zerlina in the first act, " On yonder.rock reclining," and of Fra Diavolo in the third, " Proudly and wide." The Italian. Robber found a fitting vocal representative in BRA- riAnr. (WALLA° a's performance of this character at Drury Lane occasioned the omission of three songs and six concerted pieces.) We were delighted to see him again on the .scene of his former triumphs, entering on his new engagement with so much ardour and success, and sharing the laurels of the evening with a girl who was not born till half his profes- sional career had been run. He was welcomed with the enthusiasm due to his unrivalled talents.
Miss ROMER has realized the expectations which her first and only appearance in London, about a year since, led us to anticipate. Her voice is rich and, powerful, especially the higher .part of it ; and her style and • finish are such as we should expect from the good taste of her master, Mr. EL LIOT. • In the conclusion of the first concerted piece, her voice towered above the band and chorus, and procured the merited ap- plause of the audience. The chamber scene, which is dependent for its effect wholly on her singing and acting, was managed with great cleverness and point : and in all those concerted pieces wherein she was engaged, she proved herself a well-educated singer. WILSON had only a second part, but what he had to do was done exceedingly well. PENsonavean amusingcaricature of a dandy English •nobleman ; and Miss CAW SE was as insipid as a really fashionable lady. The success of the piece was complete ; and it deserved to be so—it had evidently been well prepared, and efficiently rehearsed. For a first performance, we do not recollect a more perfect one. We had anticipated the neces- sity of some curtailments, but none are required : the attention is pre- served unflagging to the end ; and if people will go, we promise them they will be amused.
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